A SCHOOL worker has told how pupils from another college were evacuated from their smoking bus just seconds before it burst into flames at a service station.

The coach was carrying 27 pupils and staff from Middlesbrough's Trinity Catholic College back from a theme park trip when the fire broke out.

Pupils watched in horror as the blaze engulfed the coach only 30 seconds after the driver had pulled over and evacuated them, after noticing smoke coming out of the engine.

The luxury coach was Hartlepool United FC's official team bus until just three days ago. A full investigation is now underway into the cause of the blaze, which so far remains a mystery.

The Northern Echo:

Fire crews tackle the blaze. Picture: Derbyshire FRS

The vehicle was returning up the M1 from a school trip to Alton Towers, on Wednesday evening at about 5.40pm, when the driver spotted smoke pouring out of the engine. He pulled over at Woodall Services just south of Sheffield and evacuated all pupils and staff.

Eyewitness Kieron Johnson, 18, from Hartlepool, described how the black smoke from the bus was so thick it filled the air at the services, making it impossible to see, and that everyone within the services was evacuated over the bridge to the southbound side of the M1.

Mr Johnson, the inclusion manager at High Tunstall College of Science in Hartlepool, who was accompanying pupils from his school on the return trip from Alton Towers, said: “Our bus overtook theirs on the motorway and we could see it smoking then.

“Fair play to the driver to get into the services in the nick of time. The bus pulled up and the smoke was so thick you could hardly see it.

“They got all the students and staff off and it was smoking and smoking, and then you saw the flames just not long after.

“It spread through the bus so quickly that the services were evacuated and we all had to go to the other side of the motorway.

The Northern Echo:

The aftermath of the fire Picture: Derbyshire FRS

“The smoke just engulfed the whole services and there were these huge orange flames.

“The students, who I’d say were between about 14 and 16, were upset because they’d left all their personal possessions on the bus, but some of our students spoke to them and tried to comfort them a bit.

“The coach drivers were brilliant, as were the staff at the services.”

Martin Bainbridge, transport manager at Stockton-based bus company Compass Royston, said a full investigation is now underway.

"In my 30 years in the transport world I have never experienced anything like this," he said.

"The driver said the coach was losing power as he went up a slight incline, and when he looked in his rear view mirror he saw the smoke.

"He was very close to Woodall Services so he pulled in there immediately but if he hadn't been close to them he would have pulled up on the hard shoulder. The safety of our passengers is of paramount importance.

"The driver is pretty shaken up and has been stood down for the morning.

"There will be a full investigation carried out now. We don't have any idea what caused it."

He said coaches were fully checked for safety every 28 days.

South Yorkshire Fire Brigade and Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service extinguished the blaze. Compass Royston sent a replacement bus to pick up the passengers, which arrived within 45 minutes.

Trinity Catholic College head teacher Peter Coady said: "On the return trip from Alton Towers one of our coaches developed an engine problem.

"As a precaution the coach stopped at a service station and the children and staff left the bus. While they were inside the service station the engine caught fire and the bus was damaged.

"All children and staff were totally unharmed and safely returned to school on a replacement coach.

"We would like to thank the staff for their outstanding care of the students, the children themselves for their excellent behaviour in the difficult circumstances, and our parents for their patience.  "We would also like to thank the coach company for their professional and prompt action, as well as many others including the service station staff and emergency services for their support and help."

Was your child on the bus? Ring reporter Julia Breen on 01325 505022